Statistics don't lie By Smorkle (Read 1,505 times)

[Smorkle]

I often get asked about how I can ride one of those "death traps" or some other such nonsensical question concerning my scooter. I thought it would be interesting to look at actual statistics about car accidents verses motorcycle accidents and compare.

A cursory search of the internet led me to 2 sites that had data for the same year for each. 2005 is the year I chose to compare because it is the nearest year I could find statistics on both types of vehicles.

I looked both at www.car-accidents.com/pages/stats.html and at www.edgarsnyder.com/motorcycle-accident/statistics.html

"Car Crash Stats: There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes."

" In 2005, 4,553 people died in motorcycle crashes, an increase of 13% from 4,028 in 2004. "

42,636 people died in cars and 4553 on motorcycles. Huh. Listen to this: More people died AS PEDESTRIANS in 2005 than as motorcyclists! 4881 people died in auto accidents as a pedestrian. ( www.car-accidents.com/pages/fatal-accident-statistics.html )


I got one question to ask the people driving their cage: How can you stand to ride in that death trap?


Interesting side note discussion that I discovered in the motorcycle accident statistics: "1,546 lives were saved by helmets in 2005. If all states required helmets, an additional 728 more lives would have been saved. " That's a total of 2274 that were saved by helmets or could have been saved. 4553 people died. What about the other 2279? could they not have been saved by helmets? I get preached to about helmets or not all the time but geez louise. Only Half of the fatalities could be stopped by helmets? Or maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. 4553-728=3725. Perhaps that's the number of people who had motorcycle accidents who WOULD HAVE DIED ANYWAY even though they were wearing a helmet.

Just food for thought

[Bong]

Great post!!! "Most accidents happen within 5 miles from your home" Another well known statistic Well, on average most people only drive about 5 miles from home what would you expect?

I think I'll buy an Airplane, or Train statistically those are the safest forms of transportation .

[snakedoctor]

The real story...how many car drivers and % killed in accidents and how many motorcycle riders and % killed.....

[Bong]

How many people could have been saved by wearing helmets in there car?

[Alleyoop]

One thing that is overlooked and not mentioned is that there are MILLIONS of cars compared to the number of two wheelers so maybe that 4k+ number of deaths of two wheelers is actually more percentage wise. Food for thought.
Alleyoop

[Smorkle]

Nov 18, 2010 19:01:36 GMT -6 Alleyoop said:

One thing that is overlooked and not mentioned is that there are MILLIONS of cars compared to the number of two wheelers so maybe that 4k+ number of deaths of two wheelers is actually more percentage wise. Food for thought.
Alleyoop

While that may be true, one would still tend to believe that motorcycles are just as dangerous as Russian Roulette, which is COMPLETELY untrue. Also I found it interesting that it is in fact more dangerous to walk than to ride a motorcycle... regardless of percentages, more people died walking.

[kz1000st]

Yet look at this.

www.bicyclinginfo.org/facts/crash-facts.cfm

The loss of 630 lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes in 2009, just under two people every day of the year in the U.S.,

Bicycles would appear to be the best bet. I can't help but wonder if the increase in bicycle helmets is a contributing factor. I remember years ago bicycle deaths and motorcycle deaths were almost equal.

I gotta disagree with you on the helmet thing JR. I fell over on my wife's bike one day at no miles per hour when I got my leg stuck. Hit the ground a ton with my head. I even saw stars for a second even though I had my helmet on. If I didn't have it I wouldn't be here now, at least not enough to type on a computer. I even wear my helmet when I'm testing something over in the field next to the house. There's enough nasty rocks sticking up to hurt an unprotected skull.

[kz1000st]

Plus, you guys laugh about wearing a helmet in a car?



This is what's left of my car after a head on with a State snow plow. See the open window on the driver's door? It was the only glass broken on that side of the car. I was knocked unconscious for ten minutes probably because my head went through it as I hit the plow at an angle. Seat belts keep you from going forward, not sideways, that's why newer cars have side air bags. I took a beating crashing into the door and ended up black and blue from the belts. It was a violent crash and I wouldn't have minded having my full face on that day.

BTW in case you want to know it was a 2005 Scion xB.

[Alleyoop]

I agree with KZ people on Bicycles get into more accidents and killed. It is amazing to see people on the street at night riding there bicycles. They are such a thin silhouette that it is hard to see them until you are right on top of them. Also as they are riding a lot of times the thin tires hits a little rock or what not and the bike jogs either right or left out of control. I have seen them hit a big hole and really get out of control and actually crash and fall. They cannot see all the things that may be in their path as they are pedaling along especially at night.

[jct842]

had a brother when he was about 10-11 rode out of a drive on wrong side of the street and hit a city bus head on, ruined the bike but put half of the people on the bus on the floor. and he walked from it. I think a few people on the bus got hurt way more than he. lucky they did not sue.

I absolutely cringe when I see bike rider ahead riding the fog line weaving as he or she peddles along. That's a death wish for sure.

[wolfhound]

Here in GA you are required to wear a helmet if you ride, period. I feel that wearing one tends
to give a bit better survival rate.
I live in the country on a state 2 lane road. Used to see bike riders pedaling 4 abreast and tying up traffic. Now the speed limit on this road is 55 but most cagers are running 70. The
bicycle crowd came from surrounding towns. Have not seen any of them in groups lately, just one or two now and then. The local Sherrifs Dept. started advising them not to ride these
roads for safety reasons and I heard that a group of them got powed by a cager. No one hurt bad but it put a scare into them. Stupid can get you killed.

[dannicus]

Nov 18, 2010 18:09:34 GMT -6 Smorkle said:

Just food for thought

Smorkle, you are doing it wrong.

Your '05 stats say moto accident fatalities account for more than 10% of all vehicle fatalities (btw, 47% were >40 years old), yet you failed to note that motos only represented around 2.5% of all vehicles.

Also, depending on what year you look at, you are 30 to 40 times more likely to die if you crash on a moto compared to if you crash in a car.

Cars are way safer, and therefore less fun! ;D

[rapidjim]

www.bikersrights.com/statistics/notsafe.html Interesting article.

I did a paper once on the pros and cons of motorcycle helmets involving a lot of research. My conclusions were that in most cases there was more damage caused to the head and spine by a helmet than would have been without a helmet. Now keep in mind that a 30MPH head on , rear ended, or T-bone crash , in most cases it won't make a difference whether or not you have a helmet on or not. The laws of physics takes over, either your head is crushed into your spine or your head is pulled off of your spine. Now saying that, laying your machine down and scraping the pavement, wearing a helmet does give you a better chance of seriuos injury due to "road rash" and loss of blood. I personally agree with Wisconsin's Helmet Law, Required by law under age 18, required for instructional permit holders (source home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp?state=wi) Taking being ran into out of the equation, most, not all, under 18 and permit holders do not have have the experience of riding and are more likely to have an accident close to home and below 30MPH. Go watch the folks at a Motorcycle Safety course once to see what I mean, it can be scarey.

My 3 cents worth.

Jim

[speedracer]

I live in a no helmet reqiuired state, but I always have one on. I would say only 10% of the riders in SC wear a helmet. A 5 mph crash or fall hitting your head can kill you so why chance it?

[Alleyoop]

Also do not forget about flying pebbles and such thrown from car tires back or sideways. I wear a Half Helmet with a Full Face Shield. I had the helmet but no face shield until I was riding my MOPED in 2008 just around the side streets and a damn BUG flew in my eye. Now when something gets in your eye was is the first thing that happens, you reach for your eyeball. So needless to say I ordered up a Full Face Shield to protect my entire face and the Helmet protects against things being thrown from car tires and hitting my head. In addition for cold weather riders the Helmet keeps your head warm which is were you loose most of your body heat (from your top of your head)

So a helmet is not only to MAYBE protect your head from an actual Accident but other important aspects of protection.
my .04 cents worth
Alleyoop